They had shared coffee and sandwiches, and were now chitchatting about whatever they could think of. Buck had said he didn't mind that she woke him, which in itself was both true and false, but he also told her there was plenty of time to sleep later. It would rain for days to come.

"I couldn't stand being at home anymore. I'm almost eighteen, I'm sure you know what it was like," Cami smiled brightly. She hated lying, but in a way it wasn't totally that. The house had been feeling quite small lately. Buck's cheeks went warm again. Yes, he knew what eighteen was like, but not in the way she thought. He shook his head.

"I didn't live with my parents," he stated. Usually he never let people he didn't know in on such intimate secrets about himself, but his heart told him he should be honest with Cami. And he didn't think he could ever lie to her.

Cami's eyes widened. Her heart was beating rapidly in her small chest and she couldn't believe this. She was actually learning more and more about him, and thoroughly loved every minute of it. This was surely her lucky night! "How come?" she asked, trying to remain controlled.

Buck didn't know whether to be happy or sad. He wanted to tell her, but thinking of his mother still hurt; after all the years since she passed away it still really stung his heart. "My mother died when I was just a little boy. And I never met my father," he replied.

"I'm so sorry," Cami whispered. She hated this; when you mention someone to a person and they tell you he or she is dead. "Really, I am."

Buck nodded. "It's okay," he spoke a little too convincingly. "But what about your parents?" he asked back to hide his trembling lower lip.

"Oh, they're both alive," Cami nodded. "And I know them both," she added a smile.

Buck had to chuckle. He had notice throughout the last hour that she had that effect on him. When she smiled he had to smile back. When she went serious, he did too. He loved the way she could let her thoughts wander and he loved the way she described her dreams and hopes. And she was full of those. Oh, how he loved her for it!

Cami glanced at him from the opposite side of the cracking fire. The last sixty minutes had been the best sixty minutes in her life. She had learned so many new things about him, but the best thing of all; she had come to know him. And looking into those rather sad, dark eyes she could again see that new world she had noticed the first time she saw him. He really rocked her entire being and her hands were hurting from not touching him. She needed to touch him!

Buck sensed there was more to it than that she "couldn't stand being at home anymore" but though he was so curious he could burst, he wouldn't ask. He hoped everything was alright with her though; that she wasn't in any mental distress. He knew he was just that, and enough for two, but looking into her dove blue eyes he could see something he couldn't quite make out. Something sad and something distant. His heart broke at the thought of Cami in some painful trouble, and he felt that familiar warmth in his chest again. Warmth and pain. Mostly pain. He wondered how he would ever make it to morning, but on the other hand he wished the morning would never come. The wish to talk to her had come true, and though he at first had been very strongly against it, it was now getting more and more appealing every time she spoke. He found himself resting his head in his hand, half-laying on his bedroll watching her; a lazy smile had parted his lips and it was reflected on Cami's face. She too grinned widely when she went on about her story; telling him all about her parents, siblings and of course the dogs. Buck especially felt for Gordie the pup, but he realized it must be the way she described him that made him feel that way; Cami too seemed to like him the most.

It wasn't long before they were both lying on their backs talking, both staring at the dark cave ceiling. They were tired, yet reluctant to end the conversation. They had spoken about everything that came to mind, but they had to admit it was getting late. Cami especially was getting mighty tired. Buck began telling her about his days with the pony express and knew she would fall asleep soon; but he still kept talking, his every word lulling her to sleep.

"And then Cody became a little green man from the moon back in Africa," he concluded with a grin. No reaction. He smiled at the sleeping figure on the other side of the again fading fire. He crawled soundlessly to her side and covered her in the blanket she had borrowed from him earlier. This was as close as he could get to her without exploding. He sat for a time just watching her. She was so pretty; her face all relaxed in her deep sleep, her hands forming loose fists beside her head and her knees just slightly drawn up toward her stomach. He wanted to kiss her goodnight and for a moment actually considered it, but he soon thought better of it. He couldn't tear himself away from her side for a very long time; it wasn't until his eyelids became very heavy that he crawled back to his bedroll.

While climbing under the spare blanket he had brought with him from Rock Creek, he still watched the sleeping beauty his soul yearned for. He was unable to sleep however, and was tormented with that haunting pain in his chest and arms. She was so close to him, and yet he couldn't have her. She was asleep. She didn't know. She had no idea how hot the fire within him burned when he thought of her. He had almost hoped talking to her would numb those feelings, but they had only grown stronger. A lot stronger. Too strong. If he couldn't kiss her soon he would burst. Explode. Or if she didn't turn on him and yelled at him. That was also a possibility, of course. He could make her angry!

He closed his eyes and cried a silent tear for what he had to do. But it was the only way out. Even as he went to sleep he cried, and this night his slumber was filled with the images of her leaving him. He could see her in the rain, with pain written all over her otherwise so irresistible face. And he squirmed uncomfortably in his sleep knowing it was because of him.